Walker County Animal Shelter Reopens After Month-Long Quarantine Following Canine Distemper Case

The Walker County Animal Shelter has reopened after completing a 30-day quarantine that began when a litter of surrendered puppies tested positive for canine distemper virus, or CDV.

Shelter officials announced that the facility resumed normal operations on June 24 after all cleaning and quarantine protocols were completed. Sadly, all eight puppies in the affected litter died from the highly contagious virus. Officials said no other animals at the shelter became ill during the quarantine period.

Canine distemper is an airborne virus that spreads easily among dogs. Because the Walker County Animal Shelter has an open-concept design and does not have adequate facilities to fully isolate exposed animals, officials determined that a complete shutdown of the shelter was necessary to prevent the virus from spreading.

During the month-long closure, shelter staff conducted an extensive deep cleaning of the facility, disinfecting equipment as well as all entry and exit points.

The shelter currently has more than 60 dogs and cats available for adoption. Staff members have also been working through a backlog of stray animals and owner surrenders that accumulated during the quarantine.

The Walker County Animal Shelter is located at 5488 North Marble Top Road near Chickamauga and is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.

Chattanooga Man Sentenced To Life Without Parole For Walker County Murder

A Chattanooga man has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the murder of a Walker County resident.

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Battlefield Connector Trail Dedicated In Chickamauga

Trust for Public Land, Walker County, and the City of Chickamauga officially dedicated the new John Culpepper Chickamauga Battlefield Connector Trail on Friday.

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Walker County Animal Shelter Temporarily Closes After Canine Distemper Case

The Walker County Animal Shelter will be closed for at least 30 days after a litter of surrendered puppies tested positive for canine distemper virus.

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Walker County Sheriff’s Office, GBI Investigating Infant Death

The Walker County Sheriff’s Office and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation are investigating the death of a six-month-old infant in Chickamauga.

Walker County deputies and EMS were dispatched to 199 Wayne Harris Drive early Monday morning, May 11, 2026, at 3:48 a.m., in reference to an unresponsive infant who was not breathing.

When deputies arrived, they determined the six-month-old male infant was deceased. The Walker County Coroner was notified.

According to Walker County Sheriff Steve Wilson, Walker County detectives and a GBI agent are now investigating the cause and manner of death.

No criminal charges have been filed at this time.

The infant will be transported to the GBI crime lab in Decatur for an autopsy.

Foggy Start Followed By Cooler, Drier Weather Across Northwest Georgia

Residents in Chattooga and Floyd counties could see patchy fog this morning, with some areas experiencing dense fog through around 10 AM.

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Walker County Landfill Giving Away Free Straw During “Strawaplooza” Tuesday and Wednesday

In celebration of the first full week of spring, the Walker County Landfill will host “Strawapalooza” this Tuesday and Wednesday, March 24 & 25. There won’t be any musical acts performing, but there will be a lot of straw to give away.

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Low Clouds and Fog Give Way to Warm Weekend in Chattooga County; Cooler Start to Week Before Big Warm-Up Returns

Chattooga County and the rest of Northwest Georgia are waking up to low clouds and patchy dense fog this Saturday morning, but brighter skies and unseasonably warm temperatures are on the way.

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Chickamauga Man Convicted of Two Jailhouse Violence Cases, Sentenced to 40 Years

A 47-year-old Chickamauga man has been convicted in two separate cases involving violent incidents inside the Catoosa County Jail. On January 9, 2026, Jeffrey Wade Anthony was found guilty after a non-jury trial of committing Unlawful Acts of Violence in a Penal Institution, with the case heard in Catoosa County before Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit Superior Court Judge Melissa Hise.

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Walker County Historic Preservation Commission Sets Jan. 20 Meeting in LaFayette

The Walker County Historic Preservation Commission (WCHPC) will hold its monthly meeting on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. at the LaFayette-Walker County Public Library, located at 305 South Duke Street in LaFayette.

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